The uses a biofilm or attached growth bacterial process to reduce nutrients of wastewater. Attached growth processes are beneficial because they are resistant to upsets such as spikes in wastewater flows and changes to concentration in wastewater. Once a biofilm is established it makes a very stable ecology of bacteria, which helps to provide consistent results.
The microbial ecology of the trickling filter includes heterotrophic bacteria that reduce the biodegradeable aspects of the wastewater and nitrifiers and denitrifiers that reduce the nitrogen components of the wastewater. Heterotrophic bacteria exist suspended in the septic tank and also in the biofilm of the unit. Denitrifiers exist in the septic tank and convert nitrate to nitrogen gas. Nitrifying bacteria colonize in the trickling filter’s biofilm and convert ammonia to nitrate. The specific ratios of recirculation and surface loading rates work with the existing biofilm to reduce nitrogen by greater than 70% and reduce COD by >70%. The following final effluent table shows Montana (cold weather, limiting conditions) systems removal efficiencies.

Denitrification occurs in the septic tank under anoxic conditions. The denitrification reactions facilitated by the suspended growth in the anoxic septic tank are as follows:
NO3 + organic carbon + bacteria > NO2 + 1/3 CO2 + 2/3 H2O
NO2 + organic carbon + bacteria > 1/2 N2 + 12 H2O + OH + 1/2 CO2
Denitrification is an anaerobic process and is governed by the following kinetic reaction:

The rate of denitrification is directly influenced by the concentration of dissolved oxygen. As the concentration of oxygen approaches 1 mg/L, the rate of dentrification goes to zero.

Microbial growth and the subsequent nutrient reduction follow specific kinetics. Nitrification occurs in the trickling filter under oxygen rich conditions and is the kinetically rate limiting step. The nitrification reaction is as follows: NH4+ + 2O2 = NO3- + 2H++ H2O The oxidation reaction uses 4.57 grams O2 per gram Ammonia. Nitrification occurs in the following kinetic relationship:

The above equation reveals that the rate of nitrification is dependent on the concentration of
nitrogen, oxygen, and biofilm (N, DO, Xn, respectively). The Eliminite technology enhances the specific rates of each of the described kinetic processes.

Contact info@eliminite.com to find out more information regarding the science behind the design.